At the very first Porsche Carrera Cup North America race in 2021, 34 drivers lined up on the grid at Sebring International Raceway. Four years and 64 races later – only two racers hold the honor of entering every single event in championship history.
Now teammates at Kellymoss, Efrin Castro and John Goetz, had contrasting fortunes in that first-ever event. Then racing for Team Hardpoint EBM, Castro finished second in the Pro-am class behind the driver who he would go on to have a never-ending championship battle with – Alan Metni.
Then competing for Wright Motorsports, Goetz wasn’t as fortunate – failing to finish the first-ever race. Castro went on to win the championship in 2021, while Goetz scored three podiums en route to fourth place in the points.
“Both Efrin and John have been wonderful ambassadors for our championship and it has been an honor for Porsche North America to have them join us for every single event we have run over the past four years,” said Volker Holzmeyer, Porsche Motorsport North America President and CEO.
“It’s not just the fact they have raced in every event – it is how they go about their racing. They are both fast but fair, and everyone in the paddock loves competing against them.”
The Kellymoss pair passed the 50 races mark at Sebring earlier this year and that mark now stands at 64 after the final races of 2024 recently at Circuit of The Americas.
“It was a wonderful feeling to pass the 50 races mark earlier this year because John and I are truly committed to this sport,” Castro said.
“We’re also both with a really good team at Kellymoss who always get us to the start of our races.”
Now racing in the Masters class, Goetz welcomes the challenge that Porsche Carrera Cup North America provides.
“I think the two big things about Carrera Cup for me – one is you can always be better. There’s always someone better than you, so you’re always trying to improve. But also, I think the sportsmanship is just superb,” said Goetz.
“And here at Kellymoss, we all work together. It’s just an awesome team.”
With championship wins to his name, Castro is impressed with how the championship has grown over the past four years.
“The series has grown tremendously. We were all excited when it was first announced in 2021. And now, with the F1 races on the schedule as well – it’s amazing,” said Castro.
“The series just keeps growing. Porsche is doing an amazing job. They keep getting it right and doing things better, and that’s why we continue to race. It motivates us to come back.
While both drivers are fighting for their own success in their respective classes, they continue to be impressed with the level of talent that the championship now attracts.
“I think the way you could tell the series is getting better is the drivers are getting better,” said Goetz.
“I’ve been around a long time and I keep moving back in the pack because the other drivers keep getting better. The kids that come in, like Loek Hartog with Kellymoss, are real pro-caliber kids – it’s great.”
